A SHADOW AGATE 'MONKEY AND BUTTERFLY' SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY
China, 1750-1850. Well hollowed, of rounded square form, with a broad oval foot and short cylindrical neck with a slightly concave top. Carved to one side in relief with a monkey seated beneath a tree, a single peach growing from a branch directly above the monkey, all skillfully utilizing the russet and grayish-white shadings in the translucent creamy-ochre stone, and incised with a lone butterfly fluttering to the other side of the tree.

Provenance: From a private collection in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, microscopic nibbling to mouth and foot, the spoon is lost.

Stopper: Carved green glass, coral-red stopper
Weight: 62.5 g
Dimensions: Height incl. stopper 70 mm, Diameter neck 21 mm and mouth 8 mm

The homophone for monkey, hou, one of the twelve zodiac animals, is 'nobleman' or 'high official' as well as 'descendants'. The monkey therefore represents the wish for the success of one's descendants. The representation of monkey and peach relates to the legendary Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, who stole the peaches of immortality. Therefore, the present lot bestows auspicious wishes for success and longevity for generations. There is also a homophone for butterfly (die) which means 'to repeat', so adding a butterfly to a scene repeats the wish of the other symbols.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related agate snuff bottle, also carved with monkey and butterfly, but of smaller size (5.6 cm high), at Bonhams London in Fine Chinese Art on 11 May 2017, lot 287, sold for GBP 6,000, and another (6.6 cm high) at Christie's London, 7 November 2012, sold for GBP 13,750.

清代瑪瑙巧雕靈猴戲蝶鼻烟壺
中國，1750-1850年。掏膛良好，方形削肩，橢圓形圈足，短直頸，頂部略凹。 浮雕樹下靈猴戲蝶，巧妙地利用半透明瑪瑙石中的褐斑和灰白色陰影。

來源：美國賓夕法尼亞州費城私人收藏
品相：狀況非常好，輕微磨損，壺嘴和足部有輕微磕損。壺匙遺失。

壺蓋：綠玻璃, 紅珊瑚色蓋片
重量：62.5 克
尺寸：含蓋高70 毫米，頸部直徑 21 毫米，嘴部直徑 8 毫米

拍賣結果比較：一件同樣雕刻靈猴戲蝶的瑪瑙鼻烟壺，稍小 (高5.6 厘米), 見倫敦邦翰思 Fine Chinese Art 2017年5月 11日 lot 287, 售價GBP 6,000, 另一件 (高6.6 厘米) 見倫敦佳士得2012年11月7日，售價GBP 13,750。